The Boggabri Coal expansion gets a planning tick

The Planning Assessment Commission has recommended to the government that plans for the expansion of the Boggabri Coal mine could be approved.

The announcement comes only days after the mine won special approval from the EPA to release 700 megalitres of water in to the Namoi River because its systems could not cope with the recent rain and flood event.

It's understood the PAC uploaded its report about the mine's expansion proposal to the NSW Planning Department's website on Friday afternoon.

In short the PAC found that with an appropriate regional management framework and mine management plans the impacts of the project can be adequately minimised and managed.

The Northern Inland Council for the Environment says the move has failed both the community and the environment.

The Council's Carmel Flint told us she is extremely disappointed with the decision.

"This mine expansion will clear over 1,385 of bushland, including 646 hectares of an endangered community, it will destroy this unique habitat and replace it with a massive open-cut coal pit.

"We are astonished that the Planning Assessment Commission could conclude that the extensive destruction of Leard State Forest, the largest remnant of vegetation on the Liverpool Plains, would not have a significant impact on the environment.

"This report makes a mockery of the NSW planning laws."

Gabrielle Kibble from the Planning Assessment Commission emphasised that no decision had been made and that this report was only a recommendation.

"We are confident, we have listened to the community, and to other government agencies and we believe we have made a solid recommendation."

Phil Laird from the Maules Creek Community Council said a lot of detail from the PAC review springs from the mines Environmental Assessment and little of the community's concerns have been taken on board.